Float container for an automatic constant downstream level gate

ABSTRACT

The gate float container which is in communication with the tailrace through an opening in the bottom of such container, is provided with a slidable plate formed to enable the size of the opening to be varied to control the operation of the gate, and to enable the gate to be balanced without immersing the container in the tailrace.

United States Patent Vallet [451 Oct. 3, 1972 FLOAT CONTAINER FOR AN FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS AUTOMATIC CONSTANT ,l 4 5 1959 Ital 6i 2 DOWNSTREAM LEVEL GATE 594 3 l y l 5 [72] Inventor: Guy Vallet, Eybens, France 7 Primary Examiner--.lacob Shapiro [73] Assignee: Societe Generale De Constructions 32: :2 3: 2 John Joe Electriques Et Mecaniques y (Alsthom), Grenoble, France [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: 1971 The gate float containerwhich is in communication [21] Appl. No.2 104,605 with the tailrace through an opening in the bottom of such container, is provided with a slidable plate formed to enable the size of the opening to be varied [30] Forelgn Apphcatlon Pnonty Data to control the operation of the gate, and to enable the Jan. 13, 1970 France ..7001125 gate to be balanced without immersing the container in the tailrace. [52] US. Cl. ..6l/22, 61/23, 61/25 [51] Int. Cl ..E02b 7/52, E02b 7/42 [58] Field of Search ..6l/25, 23, 22, 26, 27

[56] References Cited 6 Claims, 3 Drawing figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,168,117 8/1939 Danel Q. "61/25 PATENTEDnm m2 3.695.043

FIG. 2

FIG. 5

; 'INVENTOR. w 60) I/AL LET A TTORNE) FLOAT CONTAINER FOR AN AUTOMATIC CONSTANT DOWNSTREAM LEVEL GATE This invention relates to gates for automatically controlling the flow of water in canals, streams, etc., and more particularly to control gates designed to maintain automatically a constant water level downstream therefrom.

Gates of the type with which this invention is concerned are essentially formed as a unit construction assembly and fitted with a sector-shaped gate apron centered on the axis of rotation of the gate, and with a sector float centered for rotation about the same axis. The gate is balanced by at least one counterweight provided on the frame connecting the gate apron and the float. The unit is mounted so that its axis of rotation is located at the same height as the level of the downstream water level to be controlled. To dampen the gate oscillation during operation and to shelter the float from disturbances in the downstream reach or tailrace, the sector float is immersed in a fixed container which is carefully matched in configuration to the float and which is provided at its base with an opening connecting the interior thereof with the downstream flow.

It has been found that even though the aforesaid container dampens the gate oscillations, there is still a tendency of the gate to oscillate or to react too quickly to variations in the level of the downstream reach. It has been also found that this disadvantage can be over come by constructing the container so that the profile of the opening therein can be adjusted.

It has also been found desirable to be able to balance the entire gate assembly, including the float container, either in the factory, or at the site at which it is to be installed before the water course for which it was designed isfilled.

In accordance with the invention, the aforesaid results are attained by providing the container with a sliding plate which is so designed that it can be. used to restrict the container opening so as to produce the free section required, and to seal such opening so as to allow the container to retain water and be filled to enable the carrying out of the gate balancing operations.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which show by way of example, a construction capable of effecting in aforesaid results, and in which;

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of an automatic downstream constant level gate fitted with a container embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, sectional drawing showing in detail the means for restricting the container opening; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the manner in which the restricting means may be employed to completely block the container opening.

The automatic gate unit, which is shown in its fully closed position in FIG. 1 of the drawings, comprises a frame arm 3 which extends upstream from a fulcrum 2 about which the whole of the gate unit pivots and on the outer upstream end of which is mounted a sectorshaped apron l centered on the fulcrum 2. The unit also includes a hollow sector float 4 which is also centered on the pivotal axis 2 so as to be in opposing torque to the apron l.

As indicated in FIG. 1 .of the drawings, the apron l coacts with a sill provided in the upstream reach to control the flow of water so that there is maintained in the downstream reach a constant level N which is the level of the fulcrum or pivot 2 of the gate. The gate is fitted with a counterweight 7 which is movable along a rod 8 which itself is adjustable along the length of the frame arm 3 by moving a clamp'l6. The counterweight 7 is thus movable in two directions to ensure the balancing of the gate in both the open and closed positions thereof. Such adjustment of the counterweight 7 is horizontal along the arm 3 for the closed portion of the gate, and vertical along the rod 8 for the open position of the gate. With the gate properly balanced and completely closed, the torque generated by the hydraulic thrust on the float 4 will balance the torque generated by the weight of the gate. So long as the condition is maintained, the gate will remain closed. When, however, the downstream water level N of the downstream reach falls, the gate will automatically, immediately open to permit a larger discharge therethrough sufficient to restore the water level of the downstream reach to the level N.

In order to dampen the oscillations of the gate during its operation and to shelter the float 4 from disturbances in the downstream reach at the level N, the float 4 is enclosed in a fixed container 5 which projects above the downstream water level N, and which is carefully matched in configuration to that of the float 4 so that the chamber defined thereby is only slightly greater in volume than the volume displaced by the float. The container 5 is provided with a transverse slot or opening 6 affording communication between the bottom of the chamber therein and the downstream reach so that the water can flow into the container chamber and be discharged therefrom during the oscillating movements of the float 4 in the operations of the gate. The opening 6 is formed by an elongated transverse space between the lower end of the downstream wall of the container and the base or bottom wall 18 of the container. The base wall 18 has an extension 17 projecting downstream beyond the opening 6.

Adjustment of the opening 6 to effect a proper response of the gate to variations in the level N of the downstream reach is accomplished by an elongated transverse plate 9 slidably mounted on the bottom surface 10 of a transverse angle beam 19, the longitudinal side edges of which are secured by weld seams 20,20 to the outer surface of the downstream wall of the container. It will be noted in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings that the beam 19 is mounted on such downstream container wall so that the bottom surface 10 of the beam is substantially flush with the upper edge of the opening 6, thereby enabling the plate 9 to move past such edge and through the opening 6. When the plate 9 is so moved the opening 6 will become defined by the inner longitudinal edge of such plate and the interior surface of the container bottom wall 18 as is indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The farther the plate 9 is so adjusted inwardly, the narrower will become the opening 6. Such progressive restriction of the opening 6 will be made until the desired profile of such opening for the operating conditions of the gate is reached.

The plate 9 is adjustably'mounted on the lower sur-,

face 10 of the bottom flange of beam 19 by two tie bolts 11 extending through two spaced transverse slots 12 provided in the bottom flange of beam 19 and two aligned openings in the plate 9, and provided at their lower threaded ends with nuts 13. It will be noted that the major portion of the width of the plate 9 is flat and in engagement with the beam surface 10. Beyond the bolt openings, one longitudinal edge portion 14 of plate 9 is bent away from the beam surface 10 so that it extends in offset, inclined relation to such flat major portion of the plate.

It will be understood from the foregoing that while the gate is in operation, the plate 9 will be secured to the beam 19 in the manner shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Initially the plate will be placed in its fully opened position as shown in FIG. 2. However, if the gate then shows a tendency to oscillate or to react too rapidly to variations in the level N of the downstream reach, the nuts 13 on the bolts 11 are loosened and the plate 9 slide inwardly through the opening 6 as indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 2. The opening of slot 6 is progressively reduced in this manner until the desired stability is obtained. The plate is then fixed in the desired adjusted position by tightening the nuts 13.

Before the gate is placed in operation at the site for which it was designed, either in the factory' or at the site before the water course is filled, the' gate can be balanced by reversing the position of the plate 9 as is shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings so that the offset edge portion or section 14 thereof is adjacently opposed to the slot 6. As is shown in FIG. 3, the dimensions and configurations of vthe edge portion 14 is such that it coacts with the lower edge of the downstream wall of the container 5 and the bottom wall extension 17 to maintain in position a seal 15 capable of completely blocking the slot 6. With the opening or slot 6 so sealed the gate may be balanced by moving the apron 1 to its closed positions so that the gate is related to the container 5 as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings and filling the sealed container 5 with water up to the fulcrum 2. The counterweight 7 is then moved horizontally by moving the clamp 16 along the arm 3 to a position where the gate will just remain static in its closed condition. The gate is then moved to its fully open position and the level of the water is still maintained at the height of the fulcrum 2 in such open position of the gate. The counterweight 7 is then moved along the rod 8 to a position at which the gate will just remain static in its open position. This second adjustment will not modify the balance of the gate when it is returned to its closed position since the counterweight has been moved during such second adjustment in a direction perpendicular to the frame 3, i.e., vertically with respect to the first adjustment in the closed position of the gate.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic control gate for maintaining a constant downstream water level comprising a frame, means on said frame for mounting said gate for pivotal movement about an axis located at the level at which such water level is to bemaintained, a gate apron radially disposed to said pivotal means mounted on the upstream end of said frame,'a float on said frame centered o and down t e f said 'vo mea s, and a contziiner fixed with re ia on to s id oat an adapted to be submerged in the reach downstream of said pivotal means, said fixed container having an upper open end receiving said float, an inside contour substantially matching that of the received portion of the float, and an opening bringing the interior of the container into communication with the water in said downstream reach, and means for adjusting the profile of such opening to control the movements of said float relative to said container so as to effect a desired stability of operation of said gate.

2. An automatic control gate as defined in claim 1, in which said adjusting means includes a valve member associated with said opening and movable to vary the profile thereof, means carried by said container for movably supporting said valve member and for locking said valve member in an adjusted position.

3. An automatic control gate as defined in claim 1, in which said adjusting means comprises a plate movable to progressively restrict said opening, means carried by said container for slidably supporting said plate and for locking said plate in an adjusted position.

4. An automatic gate as defined in claim 1 including means coactable with said adjusting means to seal said opening so as to enable said container to hold water for gate balancing operations.

5. An automatic gate as defined in claim 3, in which said plate has an offset edge portion and is reversible to place said offset edge portion in adjacent position to said opening, and an opening seal coactable with said offsetedge portion to seal said opening so as to enable said container to hold water for gate balancing operations.

6. An automatic gate as defined in claim 1, in which said adjusting means comprises a plate having a flat longitudinal edge section operable to progressively restrict said opening, and an offset longitudinal edge section coactable with a sealing member to completely block said opening, and means for supporting said plate in reversible positions on said container to enable it to function as an opening adjusting means or a blocking means, said supporting means comprising a slide member fixedly secured to said container, and supporting said plate for sliding movement relative thereto, and means for reversibly and slidably connecting said plate to said slide member and operable to guide said plate in its sliding movements and to lock said plate in position on said slide member. 

1. An automatic control gate for maintaining a constant downstream water level comprising a frame, means on said frame for mounting said gate for pivotal movement about an axis located at the level at which such water level is to be maintained, a gate apron radially disposed to said pivotal means mounted on the upstream end of said frame, a float on said frame centered on and downstream of said pivotal means, and a container fixed with relation to said float and adapted to be submerged in the reach downstream of said pivotal means, said fixed container having an upper open end receiving said float, an inside contour substantially matching that of the received portion of the float, and an opening bringing the interior of the container into communication with the water in said downstream reach, and means for adjusting the profile of such opening to control the movements of said float relative to said container so as to effect a desired stability of operation of said gate.
 2. An automatic control gate as defined in claim 1, in which said adjusting means includes a valve member associated with said opening and movable to vary the profile thereof, means carried by said container for movably supporting said valve member and for locking said valve member in an adjusted position.
 3. An automatic control gate as defined in claim 1, in which said adjusting means comprises a plate movable to progressively restrict said opening, means carried by said container for slidably supporting said plate and for locking said plate in an adjusted position.
 4. An automatic gAte as defined in claim 1 including means coactable with said adjusting means to seal said opening so as to enable said container to hold water for gate balancing operations.
 5. An automatic gate as defined in claim 3, in which said plate has an offset edge portion and is reversible to place said offset edge portion in adjacent position to said opening, and an opening seal coactable with said offset edge portion to seal said opening so as to enable said container to hold water for gate balancing operations.
 6. An automatic gate as defined in claim 1, in which said adjusting means comprises a plate having a flat longitudinal edge section operable to progressively restrict said opening, and an offset longitudinal edge section coactable with a sealing member to completely block said opening, and means for supporting said plate in reversible positions on said container to enable it to function as an opening adjusting means or a blocking means, said supporting means comprising a slide member fixedly secured to said container, and supporting said plate for sliding movement relative thereto, and means for reversibly and slidably connecting said plate to said slide member and operable to guide said plate in its sliding movements and to lock said plate in position on said slide member. 